It’s time to reimagine spring cleaning so it doesn’t become a major, dreaded chore. Most important: Don’t think of it as a marathon housework binge but rather a time to fine-tune and organize your housekeeping skills. The key is to break down chores into bite-size pieces, one room or section at a time.
Take a baby step in that direction by making your bed each morning, a task that housecleaning professionals have long recommended. It takes a few minutes of your time, it instantly improves the look of your room, and you’ll have accomplished something before you’ve taken that first sip of coffee.
DECLARE WAR ON CLUTTER
In the 2012 book “Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors,” researchers found that two-thirds of the garages in the homes they surveyed had no room for automobiles. Clutter had taken over.
Such is the way of clutter. You keep adding to this or that pile until you’ve created a monster. The first step in fighting back the demons: Find a place for everything you really need and rehome clothes you no longer wear and gadgets you don’t use anymore.
Feed your paper shredder often and donate old books and magazines. Make this an ongoing process. You might not need those Goodwill-bound discards, but somebody does.
Take the war on clutter outside, too. Keep your lawn trimmed and free of debris and standing water, which attracts pests that hide and breed in your yard. Keeping it neat will encourage them to go elsewhere.
CLEAN AS YOU GO
Save time and return trips. Load the dishwasher and wipe down counters while dinner’s cooking and even do a few quick chores during a TV commercial break. In the bathroom, squeegee your glass shower door after bathing.
“The water here is very hard,” said Sandra Asilda of White Glove Cleaning in Kingsland, “so it’s more difficult to clean (when neglected).”
ORGANIZE AND SCHEDULE CLEANING
Don’t wait until a cleaning or organizing job becomes a mega-task. The more overwhelming it is, the more likely you’ll keep putting it off and letting it grow. Instead, schedule a few small chores every day.
“Mop the floors and run the vacuum once a week,” Asilda said.
DON’T OVERSHOP
Shop with a list and stick to it. Everything you buy takes up space, making organizing more of a challenge. Inventory your cleaning supplies and health and beauty aids so you’re not buying things you already have.
CLEAN THE FRIDGE
Bacteria could be lurking, so keep your family safe by giving your fridge a deep clean several times a month. Toss out any expired food and find a place to store your food safely while cleaning interior surfaces.
INCLUDE EVERYBODY
Cleaning and organizing shouldn’t be a one-person job. Get your family involved.
A FEW LAST SUGGESTIONS ON CLEANING
Before you begin any cleaning task, read the directions thoroughly to ensure you’re using the right product for the right function. It could save you a do-over, or worse. Chlorine bleach, for example, can emit harmful fumes.
Clean your rooms from the top down. Dust first, let the dirt fall to the floor, and then vacuum or mop.
Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. It’s an open invitation for bacteria to grow and insects to visit. Either load the dishes in the dishwasher or handwash them and put them away.
If you’re one of many who wants to up their game in creating a cleaner, safer, more organized living space, now’s the time to start. Make it a spring to remember and one that lasts all year long.
chuck@thepicayune.com